How Many Dogs Are Abandoned Each Year in the United States?

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Quick Answer

There is no system in place to track the amount of dogs or other pets that are abandoned each year in the United States. However, it is known that between 6 and 8 million companion animals are brought to shelters each year in the U.S., according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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The animals that enter shelters include those abandoned on streets and those that are found in seized or abandoned apartments and homes. Animal abandonment is a crime in most states, with each state having their own component of cruelty laws. In New York, for example, a person may be fined $1,000 or be sentenced to 1 year in prison if convicted of animal cruelty related charges.